The CSeries is still in development. They’ve made some wing changes, materials changes and have an engine agreement. They are looking for board aproval in Jan or Feb (again). Bombardier is also working on stretched CRJ900 and Q400.

I would guess it’s one or more of several reasons.
1/ They want to see how it performes so they can defeat it with tech or tactics because of python sales technology transfer to 3rd parties. (China?)
2/ They want to see how it performs so they can defeat it because it is representative of a foreign hi tech OBS WVR missle so it could represent several different designs.
3/ They want to have a back up to the AIM-9X if there is a problem with that missile during wartime. (production problem, technical problem, countermeasure problem.)

I’ve seen that same drawing and image refered to as the Su-35BM. The next generation stealthy Flanker. A major redesign like that wouldn’t make sense with new 5th gen aircraft coming out, but then again, we have the super-bug.

At this point, I question the wisdom of retaining a military SAR tasking for these helicopters. The USCG can maintain effectiveness while operating in small detachments, but I’m not sure the same can be said about Canadian Forces.

The Harper government should immediately stand-down the entire CH-149 fleet, and conduct a review of procedures and the conduct of aircrews. The ultimate solution might be to operate all CH-149s from a single location, as a single squadron.

The Canadian Forces have been operating detachments of all kinds of aircraft for many years. CF188, CH113, CT133, CH124, CH146, CC115 and just about every other type thats been in service if they’ve gone on any overseas deployment (NATO, UN). I would imagine experience with this type of operations isn’t the problem. The DND can’t do anything else with a country as huge as Canada and very limited aircraft resources.

The government can’t immediately stand-down the fleet because there isn’t anything in place to take over. The SAR squadrons are kept very busy. Operating the CH149’s from a single location (as a SAR asset) is of course impossible logistically given the size of Canada.

I may have posted this already but I read in the local Australian aviation mag that there may be a deal where Canada takes Australias F18’s, paying for the current upgrade (Canada’s upgraded F18’s are almost identicle) and Australia goes for a bunch of F18E/f’s to replace the F18’s and F111’s. Then in around 2012ish they pass the F18E’s on to Canada and finally get their F35’s. It’s a bit convoluted but it saves both countries money while buying Intrim capability. I’m a Canadian living in Australia and as much as I’d like both Australia and Canada to buy some flashy new jets, it does make some sense because Canada is only upgrading 80 of its 120 F18s which was a number picked completely arbitrarily without actually researching what was needed. A senate report even said Canada needed more combat aircraft.
It’s all just politics.